The Boyles donated as a "way of honoring our family."

When Dan and Pattie attended the Statue of Liberty gala fund-raiser at Duke's Chowder House on Dec. 27, they went intending to pledge money toward a bench, in addition to bricks they had bought.

"At Duke's, when we donated, I didn't realize...." said Pattie. "Well. It's a big deal."

Their families have lived in West Seattle since the 1920s. Dan's grandfather helped build Holy Rosary, where Dan later attended as a student. Pattie's grandfather built a large house looking down on where Salty's is now, her mother growing up on Alki. Pattie's other grandfather, her father and brother are three generations of mail carriers working out of the West Seattle post office.

Pattie, then Anderson, attended Jefferson Elementary and Madison Middle Schools, just like her father. She met Dan at West Seattle High and graduated in 1965, married soon after. Dan's job kept them traveling across the United States until three years ago, when they returned to settle at Alki.

"West Seattle is home to us," said Pattie.

They've been married 41 years. Dan's parents have since passed away. Pattie's are in their 80s. Now, when their 5-year-old twin granddaughters visit from Summamish, they head for the beach. Emily and Audrey keep "Poppy and Grama" busy going for walks, watching seagulls and otters, and searching for beach glass "treasures."

"Whenever they're here, they think that Alki, and the beach, and the statue, are all ours."

The bench is for family. The bricks are for Emily and Audrey.

"I hope, in the future, they'll love coming back to Alki," said Grama Pattie, "and remember when they were little."

- Matthew G. Miller